By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who has three months left to get himself elected to the state assembly, is trying to explore a safer seat this time around as he failed to retain the post in his last term when he lost the Tamar assembly bypoll.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief, who became chief minister for the third time Dec 30 last year, has to become member of the state assembly – as constitutionally required – within six months of the formation of the government.
According to sources, Soren is playing his cards cautiously and is expected to choose between JMM strongholds Dumka and Jama seats, represented by his son Hemant and daughter-in-law Sita, respectively.
The chief minister Sunday created a flutter when he said he could fight from Dumka seat, represented by Hemant, who is being projected as his successor. After the death of his eldest son Durga last year, Soren had in a rally in February this year indicated that Hemant would succeed him.
However, Hemant was prompt to announce Monday that he would vacate the seat if his father decided to contest from there.
On Tuesday, Sita, wife of Durga Soren, said that she would vacate the Jama assembly seat for her father-in-law.
There are reports that Hemant might have made a public announcement but he is unwilling to vacate the seat and Sita is being pressurised by the family to do so. Sita has, however, denied the reports.
Another legislator, Vishnu Bhaiya has announced he would vacate Jamtara assembly seat for Soren.
Soren had to quit as chief minister in January last year after he lost the Tamar assembly bypoll.